Chapter Eight: The Mall
(Wally POV)
The way he 'found out' they were superheroes was by finding a green monkey-boy eating cereal straight out of the box. Wally decided just wanted a glass of water from the kitchen. So while everyone else was bustling about getting ready for a mall trip, he went to go into the kitchen. Obviously this situation was something neither of them expected. Both stared at each other, surprised. Wally was the first to snap out of it though. He calmly walked over to the cabinet, pulled out a glass, and filled it with water from the sink. He slowly drank the entire thing, facing Beast Boy.
"Dude," Bart just literally zipped into the kitchen. "You should probably turn back into a parrot before Iris's nephew sees you."
"Ummm," replied Beast Boy, looking at Wally. Bart followed his gaze, and his jaw comically fell open.
Just then, Barry walked in "Hey guys, have either of you seen-"
Barry's gaze caught his. Wally put his glass down, and raised his hand. "Hey," he said. "So, care to tell me who's who?"
Five minutes later, everyone was gathered around the small dining table. Wally, Barry, Megan, Iris and Kevin all sat down. Everyone else stood around the dining table, tensely watching the scene unfold before them. "Wally, you cannot tell anyone about our secret ID." Barry stated.
Wally blinked. "I know."
There was an awkward paused. "You know, you're not freaking out as much as we thought you would?" Barry commented.
Wally shrugged. "If I met you guys in costume, I would. But I'm meeting you guys in real life, and honestly, I'm not really impressed." Okay so maybe it wasn't the best of approaches, but within twenty-four hours he felt attacked in a way in hadn't felt in years. Besides, it wouldn't jeopardize the mission because all they would see is a guy who's been disappointed and they'll feel shame in letting someone not believe in their alter egos.
"We…uh, hadn't exactly behaved have we?" Megan stated rather sheepishly. "I guess we should apologize for that."
"Well, now I know," Wally crossed his arms, and looked down, pretending to be disappointed. "You guys really are just something for show, aren't you?"
There was another uncomfortable silence. "So, you know I'm Flash," Barry began. "And that Garfield is Beast Boy. So do you know anyone else's?"
"Um…" He pretended to think, and looked around. "So, I'm guessing Kara and Kevin are Supergirl and Superboy, but only because they look alike." He took his time, but managed to correctly name all of the superheroes. "I mean honestly," Wally explained to the stunned faces "It's really not that hard once you put everything together."
Barry frowned "No, it just means that we need to improve hiding our identity."
"How about we go to the Mall early today?" Iris suggested her voice cutting through thick tension.
Murmurs of agreements were heard. "Great," Iris stood up, "How about we-"her phone rang interrupting her. She picked it up, "Hello?" She frowned, "On my way." She turned towards Barry.
"Captain Cold's holding people hostage, and my boss wants an exclusive."
"Ready," Barry got out of the chair. "So, you kids have fun at the mall!" He spun quickly, changing into his costume. Unfortunately Wally's eyes automatically adjusted to the speed and were greeted with the uncomfortable sight of the Flash, and his uncle, half-naked for a split second. He waved good-bye, and dashed off to who knows where.
Iris sighed, probably irritated that her husband left the awkward situation.
"We'll watch over Bella for you," Megan offered.
Ten minutes later, and Iris had left as well, which left Wally in a room full of people who still strongly disliked him.
Great.
The arrogance of Tyson McGovern was annoying.
Lucius could just feel it coming off it waves as they waited for the rest of the party to arrive. McGovern was already there, as were Lois Lane and Clark Kent. He had a faint idea as to why the other reporters were there, but he didn't say anything.
Tyson McGovern was rather young, around twenty-five years old. He came from a rather poor background, which could have contributed to the obvious hatred of the wealthy in his article. He had brown hair, brown eyes, a medium build, and was at an average height.
"Where the hell is Wayne?" McGovern sneered, "Is he too busy to come to his own shin ding?"
"Actually he's not," A new voice spoke from the door way. Everyone turned around to find the Wayne brothers arriving, along with Perry White, the Head of the Daily Planet, and Agatha Christie, Head of the Wayne Incorporation Entertainment Division. "And I suggest you watch what you say before you insult my brother, or my family, again, Mr. McGovern."
Thomas Wayne Jr. was like a younger version of his brother, except for his brown hair and his slim nose, which he got from his mother while his brother had his father's black hair and rather large nose. Behind him was Bruce Wayne, looking quite unlike the 'silly-and-dim-witted-except-for-managing-his-business' persona he usually kept in public. He was angry, and very unhappy, which Lucius, to be honest, had never seen him before as.
"Oh look, 'Brucie's here," McGovern said dryly. Kent tried to hide his laugh, while Lois frowned. Perry looked nauseous and Agatha raised an eyebrow, but her face otherwise remained blank.
"I suggest we all sit down first," Lucius said quickly, sensing Brucie's angry demeanor that he was trying very hard to hide, "Before we discuss the matter at hand."
Everyone took their respected places. Bruce sat at his desk, with Tom to his left and Lucius himself to his right. McGovern sat across from Bruce, crossing his legs as he stared intently at the trillionaire. Lois sat next to him, slightly nervous, while Clark Kent stood protectively behind her. White took a seat on the other side of McGovern, and Penning stood next to Lucius.
'Let the fun begin,' Lucius thought dryly.
(Wally POV)
They all ended up going to the mall, taking an excited Bella along with them. The little chatterbox went with the girls as they looked at whatever girls look at, while the guys headed over to the skateboard shop. Iris had given Wally about two hundred dollars in cash; he didn't ask her where she got it from. Up until they divided into two groups, the only thing Wally learned was that Bart had a bit of a crush on Jaime, and either the older Hispanic was completely ignoring it, or was that blind. Of course, the beetle attached to his skull probably told him a long time ago, so maybe he just didn't want to make things awkward?
He had nothing to report to Tim that morning, other than the fact that they were heading to the mall. Tim replied by giving him a heads up; the Terror Twins would be attacking.
'Looks like the mission just got worse,' Wally decided.
The first stop for the boys was the skateboard store. Using the money Iris gave him, he managed to get a two hundred-fifty dollar skateboard for only two hundred dollars. Of course, that didn't make the Junior League Boy scouts like him anymore.
"Seriously, you were just carrying around two hundred dollars in your wallet?" Bart asked, skeptical about it.
"Someone told me that they'd give me money to buy a skateboard," Wally shrugged "I sort of lost mine, and they felt responsible even though it really wasn't their fault."
"You realized that you could have been mugged for it, right?" Jaime pointed out.
"Hey I didn't go around announcing how much money I had on me," Wally said. "I'm not that stupid."
"Rich prick," Kevin muttered.
Wally ignored the comment. Beast Boy, or Gar as the other called him, poked his lizard head out of Bart's shirt pocket, stuck his little lizard tongue at Wally, and then slithered back in.
He blinked, and was unsure of how to respond to that. "Okay…"
They wandered around the mall for a little while longer, before meeting the girls back at the food court. Bella was holding a new doll in her hand. "Bar' look!" she held out the new doll towards her big brother. "Look what I got!"
"Cool," Bart seemed completely disinterested. The girls and Jaime threw him a dirty look as Bella looked disappointed.
"That's a pretty cool doll you got there Bella," Wally smiled at the young girl. "You know, my sister likes Abby Kadabby too."
The girl's eyes lit up, "Really?"
For the next five minutes, he was her new best friend, who had a hard time keeping up with her motor mouth. Even though Wally completely failed her Sesame Street test it didn't stop Bella from chatting away. At some point, Bella was holding his hand and swinging it back and forth as the group made their way into the mall food court.
"Well, you're good with kids," Megan commented, smiling at him. It came off a little forced.
"Oh well, like I said before, I have a kid sister who's Bella's age," Wally shrugged "I guess that's just-"
A large crash interrupted his sentence. Instinctively, he pulled Bella closer as he looked up. The Terror Twins grinned widely as they made their appearance, looking a little too much like the Joker as they did. He pressed a button on his watch, sending out a signal. A large pink foam spread across the doorway, and it hardened. "This here is a hostage situation," Tommy Terror fired a gun at a random point. He looked like a crazy cowboy with an annoying southern accent.
'Since when did he have a gun?' Wally wondered, playing petrified as he held Bella close to him. He noted that the League Juniors had taken off with a large crowd that ran off earlier.
"So ya'll better stay outta our way," Tuppence added, flying next to her brother. The doors opened to reveal a large group of thugs marching it. "Or y'all are gonna get it good. Our friends here will make sure you'll stay put."
"Better hope that the city's gonna pay for your release in an hour," Tommy cackled. The two flew off into the other sections of the mall, where a few people were escaping.
Wally ducked his head as he recognized the one of the gunman; he attacked Wally and Iris the day before. 'Gotta keep Bella out of sight,' Wally thought, letting himself be pulled by a different thug who pushed him and Bella into the crowd of people in front of the Burger King. Wally made sure they were close to the little gate that led to behind the counter.
"Bella I need you to listen to me," Wally wrapped an arm around her as he pulled out his phone and typed in the password for the 'Bat-line'. If Tim received a message from this line, he'd send back-up. And lucky for them, the thugs were preoccupied with grouping the people. "I'm going to dial a number on my phone. I want you to go behind the counter and press the green button. When the ringing stops, I want you to say your name and that there's trouble at the Central City Mall. Someone will talk to you and send help, okay?"
"I-I'm scared," Bella cried "I-I'm r-really sc-scared I don't want to go."
"Please Bella," Wally said softly, but his heart was hammering. Oh god she reminded him of Maria. She reminded him of all the people he swore to protect. "I know you can do it, okay? I know you can make the call, and after you do, I just want you to speak softly and stay behind the counter, no matter what happens, just stay there. Someone will come to pick you up, okay?"
Bella sniffed, clutching her new doll close to her. "O-okay," she muttered, but Wally doubted that she'd be able to move. Keeping one eye on the thugs, he placed her on the skateboard and slowly opened the door. When it squeaked, he heard someone cough, covering it up. Wally gave a grateful nod at the woman. He finished pushing Bella inside. Seeing three other kids there, he motioned for them to come as well. "Just go inside, quickly," he said. People quietly helped the children moved. They just barely made it before a thug turned around. Wally held the bottom of the gate, stopping it from swinging.
"Hey no funny business!" he snarled. "Everyone sit down!"
"Get their phones!" the first thug, the one who attacked him shouted "Everyone put hand over your phone! Anyone funny business and you'll be shot!"
Of course, someone did resist. And that someone was pulled out into the center of the crowd, and shot in the head. There were screams, before the head thug fired into the air. "EVERYBODY SHUT THE HELL UP!"
Silence fell at once.
"Anymore noises or resistance, then all of you will be shot." The guy searched the crowd, before his eyes settled on something. He motioned to a couple of his cronies, and they dragged out a woman into the center. "Now as we're waiting how about some educational entertainment? This is how babies are made kids!"
"NO!" Wally's mouth and body reacted before his mind could think. "Leave her alone! She didn't do anything to you!" He stood up, his arm outstretched as if he could stop him. Everyone froze, and turned towards Wally "Aw crap," he muttered. Two other goons were motioned to drag him out. He resisted, but there was so much he could do without letting other people catch onto him.
He was brought to kneel in front of the man, he grabbed his hair and pulled his head back. Wally grunted.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here!" The man grinned, and Wally could see his crooked teeth, but thank-fully his breath was fine. "I know you, kid. You're Barry Allen's ah nephew." He chuckled, as if he knew a secret and he wasn't going to tell.
"H-How d'you know my uncle?" Wally asked, gritted his teeth. His head hurt like hell.
"That doesn't matter," The man hit him with the butt of his gun. "What matters is that you tell me where he is."
"I-I don't know," Wally said.
"Okay," The man let him go. Then he shot the woman he would have raped. Wally stared at her; the bullet punctured her lung, she struggled to breath. "Let's try again." This time, a man was grabbed from the nearest group.
"No!" A pregnant woman leaped up, trying to stop them. The other people, civilians not the thugs, held her back. "Let him go, please let Alan go!"
Wally recognized the woman as Martha. That meant that Alan was ex-cop at Blüdhaven. Hopefully certain things hadn't changed over the years. When Alan made eye-contact, Wally gave him a nearly-hidden thumbs-up and blinked twice; the man blinked in return. It was a trick Dick taught him, about how 'Haven cops communicated undercover.
Alan was on board. Officially, Wally Grayson was taking karate lessons. Alan was security at Wayne Technology. They couldn't defeat everyone there, but hopefully it'll give some of the hostages' time to escape.
But a very important question was burning in his mind; where the hell was League Junior?
"Where is Allen?" the head thug placed a gun against Alan's head.
Whispering caught his attention.
"That's Bumblebee."
"Where's she going?"
"Why isn't she helping us?"
"Beast Boy! He left too-"
"WHERE'S BARRY ALLEN!" The head thug roared, hitting Wally in the head with the butt of the gun.
"He's probably at work!" Wally screamed, not masking his fear, his helplessness. "He's probably at work, I don't know! I don't…I don't know."
"AAHH!" Wally turned to find Martha clutching onto the people who had held her back.
"Her water bag broke twenty minutes ago! Please let her go!" Alan begged.
The head thug sneered, before pointing his gun at Martha. "No!" Alan tackled him.
Wally punched out the thug next to him, and kneed the other one in the balls. As he predicted, the thugs turned their attention onto them. Much to his surprise though, a random young woman appeared out of nowhere, and took down two of the thugs at a rather impressive speed. 'She's trained very well,' Wally observed. He didn't have much time to study her when someone shot him in the shoulder.
He screamed as he fell down, clutching his bleeding wound. A several gunshots Wally looked up, only to find the head thug shooting several rounds of his AK-47 into Alan's dead body. 'No,' Wally thought through the pain.
"Everyone sit back down on your asses, or every single one of you piss holes will be shot!" The head thug kneeled down next to Alan, and ripped a strip of his shirt.
No one made a sound. Wally, much to his surprise, found a large hand pressing against his wound. He screamed, not bothering to hold back. "You fuckin' bleed out dead on me, kid, and I will kill everyone," head thug snarled, wrapping his wound with the ripped piece of cloth from Alan's shirt. He stood up, and issued an order "Ten of you against the pink wall. Another ten block the exit. And the five of you will keep watch over the others. Anyone does something funny, shoot 'em. And whoever's a doctor help that lady or I'll shoot. I've got other places to be."
He left Wally there, sitting in the middle of the destroyed food court. He hoped the Bella was alright, and wondered where the hell the others were. Two people claiming to be doctors rushed over to help Martha.
It seemed to go over to quickly, the giving birth. Well, he wasn't knowledgeable about birth giving and all that and he did nearly black out at one point because of the wound. But he knew that it was quicker for some women than others. The baby's cries were the only loud noise in the otherwise quiet area.
What was in this bullet wound? He shouldn't feel so drowsy. He was hearing voices, but maybe help arrived by then. The circus…was the circus in town. And Bob Marley was singing…someone was fighting…Martha said she was going to name her son Alan Walter…why Walter? He let her husband die.
The floor felt cold and nice and soft, like a blanket that Zee covered him with. Zee…she was his mommy, right? She had blue eyes…red hair…could cook a mean Italian meal…made Dublin Coddle just right…
(Third POV)
First the thugs by the civilians were taken out, then the twenty who were lined up on each side of the food court. People were still too afraid to move, thinking that it was all a trick. Red Robin, Batgirl, The Spoiler and Archer Green emerged out of their respective hiding places. Each carry a large black bag. "Ladies and gentlemen the police are going to take a while," Red Robin called out "Any doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other medically trained personal will be organized into three groups. Each group will carry a bag that will contain more medical supplies than your average first aid kit."
"Who are you?" Someone called out. No one had dared to move.
Red Robin wasn't fazed, "Someone who knocked out the thugs holding you hostage."
"We have half an hour at best," Archer Green reported "Red Hood said that the Terror Twins are causing havoc downtown and most of the police cars and ambulances went that way."
A man and a woman, both doctors, marched up each grabbing hold of a black bag "Then we don't have much time," the woman said. "I'm Doctor Maria Sandra. You're the Bats, aren't you? I've heard of you guys."
"I'm surprised," Red Robin replied "Not many people outside of the Bat cities heard of us."
"One of you saved my granddaughter's life," the elderly doctor replied "Besides, I took the same oath you did; to help people. Alright, everyone move it!"
"What about the thugs?" a man shouted out.
"They're already working on it," Red Robin waved a hand towards the Spoiler and Archer Green, who had already tied up and disarmed the guns of nearly all the thugs. A few people moved to help them, separating the thugs, the weapons, and the bullets from each other.
It was surprising, how quickly people were willing to work together when there was a shining lighthouse of hope. There weren't a lot of medically advanced people, but enough to spread into three groups, and other people treated those with minor wound relatively quickly. The woman who had given birth, Martha Lenox, was taken far away from her husband, being talked to by a man who was trying to calm her down. But the first person Red Robin and Dr. Maria Sandra went to was the red head lying in the middle of the food court.
"He's a brave kid," Dr. Sandra said as she reached him. "Stood up for a woman who was about be raped, and told his little sister to hide in the back- oh god that looks bad."
The wound bleed through the rag that was wrapped around it. Dr. Sandra unraveled it, revealing a slightly bleeding bullet wound; a slightly bleeding, ordinary bullet wound. "Right, so I need-"
"All here," Red Robin interrupted, handing her a smaller kit that he seemed to have pulled out of nowhere. "Always keep an extra bullet-removing pack."
In another part of the food court, Batgirl returned three young children to their grateful parents, before going back to the counter behind Burger King. A young girl, a toddler of three years, huddled in the corner. She didn't move when Batgirl checked behind the counter and the three children rushed at her after deeming her safe. Now, Batgirl, slowly walked up to the girl, and knelt a good distance away from her. "Bella?" she called out softly. "Bella does my voice sound familiar to you?"
The little girl looked up, peering at the young woman with olive green eyes "You're the lady I talked to," Bella whispered.
"That's right," Batgirl smiled, "You know, you're a pretty brave girl for talking to me like that, even though you're scared."
Bella sniffled, and only held onto her Abby Cadabby doll even tighter. "Here," Batgirl showed her a page of star-stickers. "You said that your teacher would give you stickers for doing a good job, right? Well you did a good job in talking to me and keeping quiet and making sure to tell me everything that you heard." She waited patiently. Finally, Bella looked up.
"Are you a superhero?" Bella asked her in a small voice.
Batgirl laughed "No, not really. I'm a hero, but I don't have any powers."
"Okay," Bella moved forward, towards the sticker. "Can you put one on me? And on Abby because she kept me brave."
"Of course," Batgirl put a stick on both the girl and the doll. "Do you want to come out now? I promise you that it's safe." Bella nodded. The young woman scooped up the little girl in her arms, and took the skateboard as well. Bella buried her face into Batgirl's neck.
By then, the rest of the Bats had arrived. Tigress and Cheshire were keeping watch over the goons who woke up. Any thug who tried to escape found a small dagger lodged in their shoulder. Red Robin and Red Hood were blowing up the pink wall that covered the entrance, and people helped push away any fallen debris. The Spoiler handed out snacks and drink to the children, talking to them, telling that they everything will get better from now on. Archer Green talked with the people, keeping them calm, telling them that ambulances have been called and are right outside, and that as soon as the pink wall went down, the severely injured go first, followed by the minor injuries and those who walked unscathed. Batgirl kept Bella's eyes away from the two covered bodies.
"Wally," Bella pointed to a red headed kid who lay unconscious, but looked relatively fine. His right shoulder was bandaged up "Why is he sleeping?"
"He had a big boo-boo on his shoulder," Batgirl explained "So he needs to sleep so that it could heal faster."
"I wanna sit by him," Bella said "I think he needs his skateboard."
"Why's that?" Batgirl asked, amused.
"Well I got Abby today and she kept me brave and Wally got the skateboard so maybe it'll keep him brave."
Batgirl smiled "You know what, sweet heart? I think it will."